Trade jobs deserve more respect than they get. Skilled labor is in short supply, nearly guaranteeing vocational school graduates steady work and good income (especially in construction/machinery fields). Not to mention about $100k less spent on tuition vs college bachelor's degree.
Absolutely agreed... also, they're largely automation proof (at least in the near term). Trade jobs are probably a better option than University for a lot of people, and I'm surprised it isn't a recommended path more often.